Gildan New Mexico Bowl: Temple Kicks Off Bowl Season in Joyous Fashion

Gildan New Mexico Bowl:
Temple Kicks Off Bowl Season in Joyous Fashion
Jojo Doria

Albuquerque, NM

Bernard Pierce and the Temple Owls kicked off the bowl season in joyous fashion.

Pierce scored on Temple's first two possessions and the vaunted defense shut down Wyoming for a 37-15 victory in the Gildan New Mexico Bowl.

Temple (9-4) quarterback Chris Coyer added 169 yards and a touchdown through the air and 70 yards on the ground in the first of 35 postseason games this holiday season.

Pierce finished with 99 yards on 25 carries and Matt Brown added 49 yards and a score on 13 carries for the Owls (9-4), who won a bowl game for the first time since 1979. It was their fourth bowl game in school history and second in three years. The win gave Temple nine wins for the second time in three years and tied a school-best.

A junior considering making the jump to the NFL, Pierce entered second in the country with a school-record 25 rushing touchdowns and 1,381 yards on the ground. He started fast, netting 31 yards on eight carries, capping an opening 90-yard, 15-play drive with a 1-yard TD run. He added another 1-yard score early in the second and Brown scored four minutes later for a 21-0 lead with 10:21 left in the first half.

Temple entered third in the nation in scoring defense (13.83) and 15th in total defense (315.50) and dominated Wyoming all day, allowing just 267 yards and picking off three passes.

Versatile quarterback Brett Smith, Mountain West Coast Conference Freshman of the Year, was 20 of 30 for 127 yards and two TDs for Wyoming (8-5), which was seeking its first nine-win season since 1996. His 20 TD passes for the season led all Freshman.